Job Title: Senior Accounts Receivable Accountant
Overview
We are a small, dynamic beauty brand seeking a highly experienced and detail-oriented Senior Accounts Receivable Accountant to join our close-knit team. As a key member of our lean operation, you will play a critical role in ensuring the financial health of our growing brand by expertly managing accounts receivable, aggressively pursuing payments from retailers, and challenging unauthorized fees and chargebacks to optimize cash flow. With cash flow being the lifeblood of our small business, your expertise will directly impact our ability to innovate, grow, and deliver exceptional beauty products to our customers. The ideal candidate brings 5-7 years of accounts receivable experience, advanced proficiency in accounting software, exceptional negotiation skills, and a proven track record of resolving complex billing disputes, particularly in the retail or consumer goods sector. Join us to make a tangible difference in a fast-paced, creative, and collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Payment Collection and Cash Flow Optimization: Proactively pursue overdue payments from retailers, including boutiques, department stores, and e-commerce platforms, to ensure timely cash inflows critical to our small beauty brand’s operations. Use strong negotiation skills to secure payments while maintaining positive retailer relationships.
• Fee and Charge Disputes: Investigate and challenge unauthorized deductions, chargebacks, or promotional fees from retailers, analyzing contracts and purchase orders to recover funds essential for maintaining cash flow.
• Accounts Receivable Management: Process, record, and monitor accounts receivable transactions with precision, ensuring accurate and timely posting of payments in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Account Reconciliation: Perform detailed account reconciliations to verify payment accuracy, resolve discrepancies, and ensure financial records align with our cash flow objectives.
• Invoicing and Compliance: Prepare, review, and issue accurate invoices to retailers, ensuring compliance with GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) standards (if applicable), and retailer-specific billing requirements to facilitate prompt payments.
• Financial Reporting: Prepare and analyze accounts receivable aging reports, cash flow forecasts, and other financial reports to provide actionable insights that support our brand’s financial stability and growth. Contribute to month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Retailer Account Oversight: Monitor retailer accounts for payment trends, credit risks, and adherence to payment terms. Develop strategies to minimize overdue balances and enhance cash flow efficiency for our small business.
• Dispute Resolution: Investigate and resolve billing disputes, such as incorrect fees, short payments, or promotional allowances, to recover funds and prevent cash flow disruptions. Collaborate with retailers to clarify terms and ensure compliance.
• Collaboration in a Small Team: Work closely with our small finance, sales, and operations teams to address payment issues, negotiate terms, and streamline processes. Your flexibility and teamwork will be essential in our lean, fast-moving environment.
• Recordkeeping and Documentation: Maintain meticulous records of retailer interactions, payment agreements, and dispute resolutions using accounting software such as QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, or Xero. Ensure documentation supports internal controls and audit requirements.
• Customer Service Excellence: Provide professional and responsive customer service to retailers, addressing inquiries about invoices, payments, and disputes with diplomacy to maintain strong partnerships critical to our brand’s success.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement process improvements to reduce days sales outstanding (DSO), streamline collections, and enhance cash flow efficiency, tailored to the needs of our small beauty brand.
• Additional Support: Assist with general bookkeeping, accounts payable, and ad-hoc financial tasks as needed, contributing to the overall success of our compact finance team.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Experience: 5-7 years of progressive experience in accounts receivable, with a strong track record of managing retailer accounts, chasing payments, and resolving billing disputes in the retail, beauty, or consumer goods industries.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, Xero) and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel for cash flow analysis and reporting). Experience with ERP systems or inventory management software used in the beauty industry is a plus.
• Accounting Expertise: In-depth knowledge of GAAP, corporate accounting principles, and revenue cycle management, including debits and credits, journal entries, and general ledger reconciliation.
• Negotiation and Dispute Resolution: Exceptional negotiation skills with a proven ability to challenge fees, recover funds, and resolve payment disputes while preserving retailer relationships critical to our brand’s cash flow.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to perform account analysis, identify discrepancies, and implement solutions that support cash flow and financial stability.
• Data Entry and Accuracy: Excellent data entry skills with a high level of accuracy, including proficiency in 10-key typing for efficient transaction processing in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication Skills: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with professional phone etiquette to manage retailer interactions and foster collaboration within our small team.
• Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with retail and beauty industry billing practices, including retailer-specific payment terms, promotional allowances, chargebacks, and compliance requirements. Experience with non-profit accounting or medical billing (CPT coding, ICD-10) is a plus but not required.
• Organizational Skills: Exceptional time management and organizational skills to prioritize tasks, meet tight deadlines, and manage multiple retailer accounts in a small, dynamic team setting.
• Team Collaboration: Ability to thrive in a small, collaborative team, taking initiative and adapting to support shared goals in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred. Equivalent professional experience in accounts receivable or financial management may be considered.
• Certifications: CPA, CMA, or other relevant certifications are advantageous but not required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with beauty industry retailers, such as Sephora, Ulta, department stores, or e-commerce platforms, with a deep understanding of their payment and billing processes.
• Familiarity with inventory-driven accounting practices common in the beauty or consumer goods sector, such as managing cost of goods sold (COGS) or promotional discounts.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) or advanced Excel functions for cash flow analysis and forecasting.
• Experience in a small business or startup environment, with an understanding of the critical role cash flow plays in growth and operations.

Why Join Us?
As a Senior Accounts Receivable Accountant for our small beauty brand, you will be a cornerstone of our financial success. Your expertise in managing retailer payments, resolving disputes, and optimizing cash flow will directly fuel our ability to create innovative beauty products and grow our brand. In our tight-knit team, your contributions will be visible, valued, and essential to our mission. Join us to work in a creative, fast-paced environment where you can make a real impact while growing professionally in the exciting beauty industry.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $48,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Work from home

Work Location: Remot

• Payment Collection and Cash Flow Optimization: Proactively pursue overdue payments from retailers, including boutiques, department stores, and e-commerce platforms, to ensure timely cash inflows critical to our small beauty brand’s operations. Use strong negotiation skills to secure payments while maintaining positive retailer relationships.
• Fee and Charge Disputes: Investigate and challenge unauthorized deductions, chargebacks, or promotional fees from retailers, analyzing contracts and purchase orders to recover funds essential for maintaining cash flow.
• Accounts Receivable Management: Process, record, and monitor accounts receivable transactions with precision, ensuring accurate and timely posting of payments in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Account Reconciliation: Perform detailed account reconciliations to verify payment accuracy, resolve discrepancies, and ensure financial records align with our cash flow objectives.
• Invoicing and Compliance: Prepare, review, and issue accurate invoices to retailers, ensuring compliance with GAAP, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) standards (if applicable), and retailer-specific billing requirements to facilitate prompt payments.
• Financial Reporting: Prepare and analyze accounts receivable aging reports, cash flow forecasts, and other financial reports to provide actionable insights that support our brand’s financial stability and growth. Contribute to month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Retailer Account Oversight: Monitor retailer accounts for payment trends, credit risks, and adherence to payment terms. Develop strategies to minimize overdue balances and enhance cash flow efficiency for our small business.
• Dispute Resolution: Investigate and resolve billing disputes, such as incorrect fees, short payments, or promotional allowances, to recover funds and prevent cash flow disruptions. Collaborate with retailers to clarify terms and ensure compliance.
• Collaboration in a Small Team: Work closely with our small finance, sales, and operations teams to address payment issues, negotiate terms, and streamline processes. Your flexibility and teamwork will be essential in our lean, fast-moving environment.
• Recordkeeping and Documentation: Maintain meticulous records of retailer interactions, payment agreements, and dispute resolutions using accounting software such as QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, or Xero. Ensure documentation supports internal controls and audit requirements.
• Customer Service Excellence: Provide professional and responsive customer service to retailers, addressing inquiries about invoices, payments, and disputes with diplomacy to maintain strong partnerships critical to our brand’s success.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement process improvements to reduce days sales outstanding (DSO), streamline collections, and enhance cash flow efficiency, tailored to the needs of our small beauty brand.
• Additional Support: Assist with general bookkeeping, accounts payable, and ad-hoc financial tasks as needed, contributing to the overall success of our compact finance team